Franco Di Santo's classy finish put Wigan on course for victory at Southampton as the promoted side paid for their inability to find a way past Ali al-Habsi.

The Argentina striker's second-half goal was followed up late on by an Arouna Koné effort as Wigan secured their first points of the season at St Mary's.

Wigan's accomplished victory was also just what their manager, Roberto Martínez, was looking for after the midweek departure of Victor Moses to Chelsea. "It would be unfair to single out one player. I think the whole team took massive responsibility after losing Victor Moses," said Martínez.

"I am very, very satisfied because we knew how difficult it would be and I thought the first half an hour showed that. When you come to a newly-promoted side like Southampton with an incredible feeling and momentum from the last two seasons, we knew we would have to cope with that in the first half an hour.

"I don't think the Southampton players should be disappointed at all. I thought they put us in a position where we had to defend and needed Ali al-Habsi to be at his best."

Southampton started their first home Premier League match in seven years strongly and the captain Adam Lallana saw an early long-range effort tipped on to the bar by al-Habsi.

Jay Rodriguez and Danny Fox had efforts blocked as Saints continued to press, before the latter required treatment after receiving an ankle knock as his attempt was thwarted.

Wigan looked rejuvenated when play resumed and Fonte had to react quickly to get his body in the way of an acrobatic Maynor Figueroa shot.

The game, though, soon became scrappy as the rain began to hammer down and, aside from a Di Santo cross-shot going wide, the half ended without incident.

Things began slowly after the restart but soon livened up as Wigan took a 51st-minute lead. Play had started at the other end as al-Habsi superbly saved a goalbound Rickie Lambert header, before Wigan broke the deadlock as Maloney played through Di Santo to hammer the ball into the top right-hand corner.

Southampton were beginning to look devoid of ideas and losing possession with alarming regularity. Long shots were providing the home side's best chances and Lambert would have levelled in the 64th minute had his fierce 25-yard shot not been met by another fine al-Habsi save.

Nigel Adkins, the Southampton manager, brought on James Ward-Prowse and Billy Sharp for the last 15 minutes as his side pushed for an equaliser, which they came close to as Jos Hooiveld saw a header loop on to the bar.

Wigan ensured victory in the 89th minute after José Fonte was dispossessed by Koné, who ran the length of the pitch before slotting past Kelvin Davis while Southampton appealed in vain for a foul.

For Adkins it was a harsh encounter with the realities of the top flight. "I think it just highlights how ruthless the Premier League is," he said. "Wigan haven't really had that many opportunities but they've gone and scored.

"There was a lot of positives to take from it in terms of the opportunities we did create, but ultimately we were looking for the three points today."